Columbus Health Department, OH

Description of Sites / Initial Thoughts about the Use of MAPP

Columbus has a population of more than 700,000. Approximately 70 percent of the population is white and 25 percent is black; and its Somali, Latino, and Asian populations are rapidly increasing. Columbus has the fastest-growing Somali population in the United States.

The Columbus Health Department made a concerted effort to reduce direct involvement in the delivery of primary care to focus on the Ten Essential Services. Their efforts focused on monitoring health status, mobilizing community partnerships, linking people with needed resources, and ensuring a competent workforce.

One of the major steps taken to decrease the health department's involvement in primary care was to designate eight Community Neighborhood Health Centers (CNHC) as nonprofit organizations. Although the CNHC is now a separate organization and has its own staff, the health department still has influence as the Board of Health allocates the majority of the CNHC's funding.

The Columbus Health Department is one of seven health departments (funded by the Ohio Department of Health), that implement the state's Community Health Improvement Cycle (CHIC). Through the CHIC initiative, health departments were identified and began community health strategic planning activities. Through these activities, Columbus began preparing for a MAPP-like process.

Columbus plans to use the progress made, and products created, to enhance the MAPP process. The advisory committee overseeing the Ohio Department of Health Grant has been expanded to include grass-roots organizations, community residents, the faith community, and the small business community. The committee recently directed the development of a health improvement guide for Franklin County, the most populous county in the area.

As the MAPP process in Columbus moves forward, the committee is focusing on two efforts:

A plan to disseminate and gather feedback on the information contained in the health improvement guide; and

Determining the best method for conducting the Community Themes and Strengths Assessment.

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Columbus, OH Case Study

The case study provides information about the community's experience and process it went through using the MAPP tool, including links to resources used and lessons learned.